The night sky was dotted with stars, and in the dark and quiet forest, a flickering firelight dispelled the surrounding darkness.
By the campfire, two figures were busy.
"Rongrong, the fire's not strong enough, quickly add more branches!" Ling Feng called out, flipping the fish on the roasting rack in front of him to ensure even heat distribution.
"Got it." Tu Shan Rongrong hurriedly picked up a few branches from the side, broke them into sections, and tossed them into the fire.
"Brother Ling Feng, how much longer until this fish is ready?" Tu Shan Rongrong sniffed the fish aroma wafting through the air, her eyes fixed on the roasted fish, constantly swallowing.
"Hmm, it's almost ready. Go call Xiao Fan and your sister, and we can eat," Ling Feng nodded.
"Okay, I'll go call Sister and Brother Xiao Fan right away." Tu Shan Rongrong had been hungry for more than a day, and the roasted fish was incredibly tempting. She hurried off to call Mo Xiao Fan and Tu Shan Hong Hong.
On the branch of a tall tree, Tu Shan Hong Hong stood, looking at the moon hanging in the sky, her eyes unfocused, as if lost in thought.
"Sister." Tu Shan Rong Rong's voice suddenly sounded in Tu Shan Hong Hong's ear. Tu Shan Hong Hong immediately snapped back to attention and looked towards the source of the sound. Tu Shan Rong Rong was waving at her from under the tree.
"Sister, Brother Ling Feng has finished the fish, it's time to eat," Tu Shan Rong Rong said, continuing to wave when Tu Shan Hong Hong noticed her.
"Okay, coming," Tu Shan Hong Hong replied, leaping down from the branch and landing lightly in front of Tu Shan Rong Rong. She gently stroked Tu Shan Rong Rong's head with one hand. "Let's go. Rong Rong, you must be starving. I've tasted one of Ling Feng's roasted fish, and it's quite good."
"Mmm, but you go first, Sister. I'll go call Xiao Fan Ge," Tu Shan Rong Rong nodded. Although she was very hungry, she hadn't forgotten to call Mo Xiao Fan.
"Let's go together, it's dangerous in the dark," Tu Shan Hong Hong said worriedly.
"Okay." Tu Shan Rong Rong didn't refuse and nodded. She knew Tu Shan Hong Hong's personality well; even if she refused, Tu Shan Hong Hong would still follow her. This was Tu Shan Hong Hong, who cared deeply for those important to her, even more than her own life. In short: protective. Tu Shan Hong Hong's brand of protective affection, you're welcome.
On a clearing illuminated by moonlight, Mo Xiao Fan sat with his eyes closed, a double-edged sword beside him, the Qing Yuan Sword that Ling Feng had given him. The sword was about four feet long (1.3 meters). Its hilt, guard, and pommel were all a deep emerald green, like jade. Two characters, "Qing Yuan," were engraved on the guard. The blade was greenish-blue, with intricate sword patterns etched into it, giving the entire sword an ancient feel. That's right, like the Dragon's Roar in the Sheath, the Qing Yuan Sword had no scabbard, only the sword itself.
"Swish!" Mo Xiao Fan gripped the hilt of the Qing Yuan Sword and sprang to his feet. His Taoist robe fluttered wildly in the wind. Mo Xiao Fan slowly opened his eyes, his gaze sharp as a torch.
"Qing—Yuan—Sword—Ray!" Mo Xiao Fan uttered the four words. A faint greenish-blue light flickered at the tip of the Qing Yuan Sword. Although not obvious, one could see a light different from the moonlight if one looked closely.
"Whoosh!" He swung the sword, and a greenish-blue arc streaked through the air.
"Success!" Mo Xiao Fan watched the disappearing greenish-blue arc in the air, a glint of excitement in his eyes, a smile on his lips. He looked overjoyed and said excitedly, "The greenish-blue arc just now represented the first move of the Qing Yuan Sword Art, Qing Yuan Sword Ray, which I have now mastered."
"Finally, I've learned Taoist magic. Yao Yao, wait for me. When I become strong enough, I will definitely come to find you," Mo Xiao Fan gazed up at the moon, murmuring.
"Brother Xiao Fan! Brother Ling Feng has finished dinner, it's time to eat!" Tu Shan Rong Rong's eager voice came from behind him.
"Okay, coming." Mo Xiao Fan turned and saw Tu Shan Rong Rong and the others coming to call him. He quickly put the Qing Yuan Sword into his waist storage pouch, then tucked the "Qing Yuan Sword Art" inside his robe for protection. He then hurried towards Tu Shan Rong Rong and the others. After calling Mo Xiao Fan, the three of them returned to the campfire.
"Master, I..." Mo Xiao Fan rushed to Ling Feng's side as soon as he saw him, saying excitedly, but Ling Feng interrupted him ruthlessly.
"We'll talk later, let's eat dinner first. The temperature is low at night, and this roasted fish cools quickly," Ling Feng handed Mo Xiao Fan a roasted fish. Ling Feng: Heaven and earth are big, eating is the biggest! No one can stop me from eating!
"Yes." Although Mo Xiao Fan had something to say, his stomach, like Ling Feng's, prevented him from speaking, letting out a rumbling sound. Mo Xiao Fan, a little embarrassed, scratched his head, took the roasted fish from Ling Feng, and sat down to eat with great relish. Cultivation consumes energy, especially for those who have just begun. The combined mental and physical exhaustion is even more severe. Plus, they had been traveling all afternoon. It's normal for Mo Xiao Fan's stomach to rumble.
"Brother Ling Feng, what about mine and Sister's? I'm so hungry," Tu Shan Rong Rong said to Ling Feng pitifully, seeing Mo Xiao Fan eating heartily. Her appetite was once again whetted by the smell of roasted fish. Tu Shan Hong Hong, though silent, kept her gaze on the fish roasting over the fire, clearly also drawn by its aroma.
"Here, eat your fill. I roasted a few more. I'll roast more if it's not enough. I'll make sure you're all satisfied!" Ling Feng generously handed Tu Shan Hong Hong and Tu Shan Rong Rong each a roasted fish. Ling Feng had caught dozens of fish in the lake on Mount Ao Zang last time. He had originally planned to catch just one, but because of a certain prodigal son of the fish clan, his entire family was wiped out.
"Ah, so delicious! (✪▽✪)" Tu Shan Rong Rong took the roasted fish and could no longer resist its temptation. She opened her mouth wide and took a bite, chewed the piece of fish, and swallowed it. A spark flashed in Tu Shan Rong Rong's eyes as the fish went down, and she was very satisfied. She then buried her head in eating.
"Thank you." Tu Shan Hong Hong, unlike Tu Shan Rong Rong, didn't lose her composure. She took the roasted fish, said thank you, sat on a large rock, and ate slowly, bite by bite. Seeing this, Ling Feng also picked up a roasted fish and began to eat.
Time passed slowly, and dinner was soon over. Ling Feng and the other three sat around the campfire.
"Master, I have embarked on the path of cultivation. I am now in the early stage of Qi refining," Mo Xiao Fan said excitedly.
"Keep up the good work! (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و✧" Ling Feng nodded.
"Then I'll continue cultivating, striving to find Yao Yao as soon as possible." Mo Xiao Fan couldn't resist the urge to continue cultivating.
"There's no point in rushing on the path of cultivation. It's getting late. Get some rest early; we have to travel again tomorrow morning." Ling Feng pulled Mo Xiao Fan, who was about to get up, back down to sit. Ling Feng: You want to overwork? Impossible!